Google

OK, Google started as a search company in 1998, when Sergey Brin and Larry Page were doctoral students at Stanford. And fifteen years later? Google is a verb. That's how ingrained it's become into our lexicon, as well as into our lives. If you want to know something, you "Google" it.

Of course, Google is so much more now. It's an advertising company (which still provides the bulk of its revenue). It's a video-hosting company, with YouTube. It's a social network, with Google+. It's a mobile company, with Android. It's leading the wearables revolution with Google Glass and Android Wear. Google's making inroads into enterprise with its web-based infrastructures, to the point where municipal governments and private businesses alike are ditching the server racks for the cloud. It's seeking to change the way we use computers with its not-quite-a-thin-client Chromebooks.

And that was just the first 15 years.

Where will Google go next? That's a question many of us can't wait to see answered. And, understandably, it's a question many are wary of. Is Google too big? Is it too powerful? Does it know too much? Is it doing the right things for the right reasons? Or is it just trying to become as rich and powerful as it possibly can? Those are all fair questions, and ones that Google should ask itself, and ones that we as its customers should continue to it.

All Google

Another U.S. city receives Google's crazy-fast Internet service
The latest big Google Fiber expansion is in Provo, Utah, and today marks the beginning of home installations of the new service. Following up on the deal that officially closed in July, residents now have their chance to get their...

Service can cost as little as $75 per language for a small app
Google is working to bring more of Google Play to countries with languages other than English, and launching its App Translation Service is a big step in the right direction. Announced back in May at Google I/O, the App Translation...

New contextual cards and smarter voice search in Nov. 13 update, according to Wired
Google has slowly but consistently been improving its search app for Android over the past year or so, bringing more cards to Google Now and new ways to interact by speaking to your device. It appears the next...

Subsidized for $50-150 or $450-500 outright
Canada isn't the only place seeing expanded Nexus 5 availability today. As revealed in the carrier's launch-day press release, today's the day the Nexus 5 arrives on Sprint. Sprint's own site has the 16GB model for as little as $49.99 on a two-year...

New version lets you use Google's IM app to send and receive texts
As promised at last week's Google+ event, the new version of Hangouts capable of sending and receiving text messages is now rolling out through Google Play. The update to brings things up to speed with the version of Hangouts on...

With Nexus 5s already in the hands of Google Play Store buyers, we're starting to see the first indications of when it'll arrive at subsidized prices on U.S. carriers. Sprint's is due to arrive from Nov. 8, and if the latest leaked documents are to be believed then T-Mobile shouldn't be far behind...

New version adds Korean support
As part of Google's ongoing effort to spin off certain software features into Google Play for easier updating, the company has today launched the Google Text-to-Speech engine as a standalone app on the Play Store. The will push out automatically to those using an...

'Limited number' of SIM-free handsets now sold out
If you wanted to get hold of a Nexus 5 from Carphone Warehouse at the staggeringly good SIM-free price of £295 then hopefully you were quick off the mark last Friday. The UK retailer is no longer offering the device without a contract, and as...

System now live for those seeking help, still invite-only for experts
Google is making its aptly-named help service Helpouts official today, giving you access to experts in different areas via Google Hangouts. The basic premise of Helpouts is to work as a middleman for connecting those who need...

A slight premium over U.S. pricing, but it's in stock and ready to ship
While Google's Chromecast app for Android broke U.S. exclusivity, the dongle itself still remains M.I.A. At least, officially, anyway. There was a brief time when Amazon customers could get their hands on them, but if you're...

How does the Nexus 5's battery stand up after a few days of real-world use?
Battery life is one of those areas of smartphone performance that’s difficult to quantify. Synthetic tests rarely reflect real-world performance, and it takes time to get a feel for how a new phone stands up.
We’ve been...

A quick overview of the new Nexus's photographic capabilities
Google's Nexus smartphones don't have the best reputation when it comes to photography. The Galaxy Nexus's rear camera was a pretty big disappointment, and the Nexus 4's was little more than adequate, despite the introduction of new...

Come take a look at the future of Android
The Nexus 5 is upon us, and with it Android 4.4 KitKat. The latest Nexus handset combines high-end Android hardware with the latest pure Android straight from Google. In the new OS version, KitKat, the stock UI has seen its biggest visual overhaul since...

Hands-on photo gallery
While we prepare our hands-on coverage of LG and Google's latest Nexus handset, why not take a glance over our complete hands-on photo gallery? We've got a dozen or Nexus 5 photos waiting for you in the gallery after the break — enjoy!

Android 4.3 is the end of the line for the Samsung-made Nexus
Galaxy Nexus owners, you might want to sit down for this. Your device won't be getting an official update to the newly-announced Android 4.4 KitKat. Quoth the Google support site:
Galaxy Nexus will not be receiving the Android 4.4...

Streamlined performance, new smarter phone app, pedometer support, new "immersive mode" in new version of Android
Along with the LG Nexus 5, Android 4.4 KitKat is finally official — and there's a whole bunch of new features to get to grips with, besides the obvious UI changes we've seen in all...

Google shows off the latest features of its flagship device
Well, the Nexus 5 is here, and Google has just posted the first official commercial on its YouTube page. Take a look and see if you spy anything interesting — we just see some basic demos of the camera and gallery. We're still picking...

Here comes Google and LG's next big thing
Today brings an end to all the rumors, leaks and speculation — the LG-made Google Nexus 5 is finally official and the Google Play Store is now taking orders.
Here's the long and short of it: This year's Nexus handset is a 5-incher with a 1080p display, a...

More natural sounding female voice replaces the old robotic tones
If you use Google Search's voice features in the UK, you may have noticed a fairly significant change today — the robotic male voice of old has been replaced with a new, more natural sounding female voice. The change brings the UK...

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